SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
45 
which walk, and those which swim. The simplicity of this 
arrangement must be obvious, but it certainly is question¬ 
able whether it is sufficiently precise : I therefore again 
have recourse to the Linnean s} r stem of parallels, by which I 
think it will appear that rapacious birds and creeping birds 
must of necessity be added to the list. Passing over the mar¬ 
supials, the parallels I w’ould select are those offered by the 
placentals, for the ranks of these are better filled, and their 
characters, moreover, are ascertained with that nice preci¬ 
sion which results from a long-continued and intimate ac¬ 
quaintance with their habits. In order to demonstrate my 
meaning, I will define the leading characteristics of each 
group of the placentals already indicated, and adduce what 
I suppose its parallel among birds. 
1st. Tice Scansores are almost omnivorous ; they eat 
fruits, seeds, insects, &c.: they have the opposable thumb, 
and are consequently climbing animals : they use the an¬ 
terior extremities as hands, for conveying food to the mouth 
and for other purposes : with these characters are combined 
an unusual quantity of brain, and a peculiarly apt power 
of imitation. I think there can be but little doubt that the 
parrots, among birds, emulate the monkeys among pla¬ 
centals : they eat all kinds of food that they can procure ; 
they obtain it in the same situations ; they seek it in the 
same way, — by climbing, — for a parrot actually climbs 
like a monkey : it does not leap or run like other birds; but, 
like a monkey, or more especially a lemur, climbs slowly 
and solemnly from bough to bough: its toes are placed two 
and two, presenting an exact analogy to the opposable 
thumb of the Primates; and its foot is constantly used as 
a hand for conveying food to the mouth : its chattering 
voice is also similar, and in the gift of speech it rivals 
